Health Information Management

Located across from the Medical Library on the first floor of the hospital, Health Information Management (HIM) is open to the public from 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.  The HIM department is responsible for the management of Trinity Medical Center medical records including:
 
•        Release of Information
•        Birth Certificates and Death Certificates
•        Diagnoses and Procedure Code Assignments
 
Release of Information
         Release of patient information generally requires a signed written authorization by the patient that meets privacy requirement regulations.  Copies of medical records are available upon written request with a valid authorization.  Payment for copies of medical records is required at the rate of $1 per page for the first 25 and $.50 for each page thereafter.
 
Birth Certificates and Death Certificates
             Birth Certificate information is collected by a Trinity Birth Certificate Certifier following delivery and prior to discharge.  This information is submitted to the Alabama Department of Public Health electronically. 
 
            Death Certificates are initiated by the hospital and submitted to the appropriate funeral home.  Funeral homes are then responsible for submitting the certificate to the proper state authority.
 
Diagnoses and Procedure Code Assignment
             HIM is responsible for assigning and submitting all ICD-9 and CPT codes on a patient's bill prior to payment by payers.  Assignments are based on physician documentation as contained in the patient record following strict coding guidelines and Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) rules and regulations.  Changes in coding assignments can only be made as supported by physician documentation in the patient record.

Telephone  (205) 592-1280

Fax  (205) 592-1789